7 mother of the bride and groom fashion tips from Carole Middleton's go-to brand
The experts at Catherine Walker share their top tips…
The mother of the bride and groom often play an important role in weddings, not only in the lead up to the big day, but on the day itself, so it’s understandable that many mums feel the pressure to find the perfect outfit for the occasion. And while you may think it will be difficult to find an outfit that is age-appropriate, flattering and elegant, one woman who showed it isn’t is Carole Middleton, who was praised for the beautiful ensembles she wore for both of her daughter’s weddings – Prince William and Kate’s royal wedding in 2011, and the nuptials of her youngest daughter Pippa Middleton to James Matthews in 2017.
The one thing both outfits had in common is that they were from Catherine Walker & Co, a label long loved by the royals, including the Duchess of Cambridge and the late Princess Diana. With that in mind, we asked the label’s co-founder and head of design, Said Cyrus, to share his top tips to ensure mothers of the bride and groom look – and feel – their best this wedding season…
Carole Middleton wore Catherine Walker & Co to both of her daughters' weddings
The mother of the bride and groom will star in many of the main wedding photos alongside the bridesmaids and groomsmen, so it’s important to pick an outfit that complements the colour scheme chosen. It doesn’t have to be a perfect match, but wearing a colour that works well with the bridal party will help the group photos to look more cohesive.
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It can be overwhelming when you’re faced with a huge array of colours, styles and prints while occasionwear shopping, making it challenging to find something that not only works with the wedding’s colour scheme, but also suits you. If in doubt, ask the experts, who will be happy to help.
You may want everything to match, but even choosing accessories and footwear in contrasting tones can have a big impact on your overall ensemble. Look to Carole Middleton, who complemented her powder blue royal wedding outfit with a pale grey clutch bag and court shoes, rather than wearing head-to-toe blue.
This is a speciality of Catherine Walker & Co, with Said noting that "mother of the brides are seen a lot from the back at weddings!"
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You won’t be wearing a coat or jacket all day, so pay attention to what’s underneath it to ensure you still feel your best long after the wedding ceremony is over.
Experiment with the fabric either as applique such as Catherine Walker’s Mount coat and dress, or one standalone piece such as the Hampton dress and Selena suit.
It can be difficult to find a match between your outfit and accessories when buying from a variety of shops, so going to a specialist designer who can create pieces like hats and clutch bags to co-ordinate with your chosen ensemble could make the process much easier. Said says of Catherine Walker & Co’s service: "The hats are also designed to work in harmony rather than ‘fight’ with garments in making a fashion statement."
Said regularly takes orders six months or more in advance of a wedding date, and it’s a good idea to allow more time to look for your own perfect outfit, especially if you may need any alterations. It’s never too early to start!
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